Cercis plant named ‘NC2014-5’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of Cercis plant, referred to by its cultivar name, ‘NC2014-5’, is disclosed. The new variety is characterized by its profusion of light-purplish-pink-colored flowers. Small, green colored foliage which aligns in an attractive overlapping pattern along the stem is formed and moderately slow growing, upright, dwarf growth habit is displayed.

Latin name of genus and species of plant claimed: Cercis canadensis.

Variety denomination: ‘NC2014-5’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Cercisplant botanically known as Cercis canadensis and hereinafter referred toby the cultivar name ‘NC2014-5’.

The new cultivar originated in a controlled breeding program in JacksonSprings, N.C. in 2010.

The new Cercis cultivar is the result of a controlled cross wherein twoparents were crossed which previously had been studied in the hope thatthey would contribute the desired characteristics. The female parent(i.e., the seed parent) of the new cultivar was Cercis ‘Texas White’,not patented. The male parent (i.e., the pollen parent) of the newcultivar is Cercis ‘Ace of Hearts’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 17,161.

The parentage of the new variety can be summarized as follows:‘Texas White’ x ‘Ace of Hearts’

The seeds resulting from the above pollination were sown and smallplants were obtained which were physically and biologically differentfrom each other. Selective study in 2014 in a controlled environment inJackson Springs, N.C. resulted in the identification of a single plantof the new variety, which was selected for its profusion of lightpurplish-pink colored flowers, small green and attractive overlappingleaf arrangement, and upright dwarf growth habit.

The new variety has been found to undergo asexual propagation in inBelvidere, Tenn. since 2015 by chip budding. This asexual reproductionhas demonstrated that the new cultivar reproduces true to type with allof the characteristics, as herein described, firmly fixed and retainedthrough successive generations of such asexual propagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following characteristics of the new cultivar have been repeatedlyobserved and can be used to distinguish ‘NC2014-5’ as a new and distinctcultivar of Cercis plant:

-   -   (a) Profusion of light purplish-pink-colored flowers,    -   (b) Small, green-colored foliage which aligns in an attractive        overlapping pattern along the stem; and    -   (c) Moderately slow growing, upright, dwarf growth habit.

The new variety of the present invention can readily be distinguishedfrom its ancestors. More specifically, plants of ‘Texas White’ (i.e.,the seed parent) display white-colored flowers and exhibits a roundedhabit, whereas plants of the new variety display lightpurplish-pink-colored flowers and exhibit an upright, dwarf growthhabit. In addition, plants of ‘Ace of hearts’ (i.e., the pollen parent)display more purple-colored flowers, whereas plants of the new varietydisplay more purplish-pink colored flowers and exhibit a more uprighthabit compared to plants of the pollen parent.

Moreover, the new variety can be readily distinguished from othersimilar non-parental varieties. Of the many commercially availableCercis cultivars, the most similar in comparison to the new cultivar is‘Little Woody’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 15,854. However, plants of the newcultivar differ from plants of ‘Little Woody’ in at least the followingcharacteristic:

-   -   1. Plants of the new cultivar have less textured leaves than        plants of ‘Little Woody’.    -   2. Plants of the new cultivar have a more upright growth habit        than plants of ‘Little Woody’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show, as nearly true as it is reasonablypossible to make the same in color illustrations of this type, typicalgrowth habit, flowering and foliage characteristics of the new cultivar.Colors in the photographs differ slightly from the color values cited inthe detailed description, which accurately describes the colors of‘NC2014-5’. The plants in the photographs were approximately four yearsold and were growing in a test field in Cochranville, Pa.

FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of ‘NC2014-5’

FIG. 2 illustrates flowering of ‘NC2014-5’

FIG. 3 illustrates a close-up view of the foliage of ‘NC2014-5’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new cultivar has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that the phenotype mayvary somewhat with variations in the environment, such as temperature,light intensity, and day length, without, however, any variance ingenotype.

The chart used in the identification of colors described herein is TheR.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England,2007 edition, except where general color terms of ordinary significanceare used. The color values of the flowers were determined in spring2019. Color values of the foliage were determined in summer 2019 undernatural light conditions in Jackson Springs, N.C.

The following descriptions and measurements describe plants producedfrom chip budding and grown outside in Jackson Springs, N.C. Plants wereapproximately four years of age. Measurements and numerical valuesrepresent averages of typical plants.

-   Botanical classification: Cercis canadensis cultivar NC2014-5.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female parent.—Cercis ‘Texas White’, not patented.        -   Male parent.—Cercis ‘Ace of Hearts’, U.S. Plant Pat. No.            17,161.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—Chip budding.-   Plant description:    -   -   Type.—Deciduous perennial tree.        -   Growth habit and general appearance.—Moderately slow            growing, upright, dwarf tree.        -   Commercial crop time.—Approximately 1.5 years from budding            to finish as a 2 to 3-foot tree.        -   Size.—Height of 4-year old tree: Approximately 1.4 meters.            Width: Approximately 76.2 cm.        -   Trunk.—Texture: slightly rough. Color: 201B.        -   Branches.—Densely branched. Strength: Moderately strong.            Diameter of one-year old growth: Approximately 4.0 mm.            Internode length: 2.1 cm on average. Growth pattern:            slightly zigzag, deviating less than 5 degrees from vertical            at each node. Texture of new growth: Slightly rugose. Color            of young stem: N77A to 200C when hardened off. Color of            mature stem: previous seasons growth is N199B. Lenticel:            numerous, tiny. Lenticel length: Less than 1.0 mm. Lenticel            shape: circular to slightly elongate. Lenticel color: 164B.-   Foliage description:    -   -   General description.—Type: Deciduous. Arrangement:            Alternate.        -   Leaves.—Shape of immature leaves: Suborbicular. Shape of            mature leaves: broad-ovate. Apex: Moderately to distinctly            pointed. Base: Cordate. Margin: Entire. Length to base of            sinus: Approximately 5.1 cm. Length to end of lobe:            Approximately 6.5 cm. Sinus indentation: Approximately            1.2 cm. Width: Approximately 6.0 cm. Texture of upper and            lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Venation pattern:            Reticulate. Color of upper surface of mature foliage: N137A            with indistinguishable venation. Color of lower surface of            mature foliage: N138B with indistinguishable venation.            Fragrance: None detected.        -   Petiole.—Length: Approximately 2.6 cm. Diameter:            Approximately 1.0 mm. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color:            144A.-   Flowering description:    -   -   Flowering season.—Flowers in early spring for about 2-3            weeks depending on weather conditions.        -   General description.—Form: Fasicle. Flower Arrangement:            Sessile clusters. Symmetry: Bilateral symmetry. Type:            Papilionaceous. Quantity per cluster: 6 per cluster on            average. Flower length: 8.0 mm on average. Flower width            across wings at anthesis: 5.0 mm on average. Flower depth            (bottom of keel petals to top of wings): 2.0 mm on average.        -   Bud just before opening.—Shape: slightly elongate. Diameter:            Approximately 1.0 mm. Length: Approximately 1.0 mm. Color:            59B. Texture: Glabrous.        -   Petals.—Quantity: 5, unfused. Texture of upper and lower            surfaces: Glabrous. Color of banner, wings, and keel base            when first and fully open: 73B. Color of keel tip when first            and fully open: 61B.        -   Calyx.—Shape: vase-shaped. Diameter: Approximately 2.0 mm at            top of hypanthium. Length: Approximately 3.0 mm. Color of            outer and inner surfaces: 59C. Texture of inner and outer            surfaces: Glabrous.        -   Sepals.—Arrangement: Fused.        -   Pedicel.—Strength: Strong. Shape: Round. Length:            Approximately 0.4 cm. Diameter: Less than 1.0 mm. Texture:            Glabrous. Color: 60C.        -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen quantity per flower:            10 on average, unfused. Stamen length: 6.0 mm. Stamen width:            Less than 1.0 mm. Anther shape: Round. Anther color: 65A.            Filament length: Less than 1.0 mm. Filament width: Less than            1.0 mm. Filament color: 65A. Pollen amount: Sparse. Pollen            color: 11B. Gynoecium: Pistil length: Approximately 4.4 mm            on average. Pistil width: Less than 1.0 mm. Pistil texture:            Glabrous. Stigma shape: Round. Stigma color: 59D. Stigma            length: Less than 1.0 mm. Stigma width: Less than 1.0 mm.            Style shape: round. Style width: Less than 1.0 mm. Style            color: 65A. Ovary position: Superior. Ovary shape: Elongate.            Ovary length: Less than 1.0 mm. Ovary width: Less than            1.0 mm. Ovary color: 59A.        -   Seed production.—None observed to date.        -   Disease and pest resistance.—Plants of the new Cercis have            not been noted to be resistant to pathogens and pests common            to Cercis.

We claim:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Cercis plant named‘NC2014-5’, substantially as herein illustrated and described.